March 26, 2026 Fans Push For $14M Deal For Soccer Match Fiasco
By Tom Lotshaw
Law360 (March 26, 2026)
— Soccer fans impacted when people without tickets stormed a Copa America championship match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens two years ago asked a Florida federal judge to sign off on a settlement agreement worth up to $14 million.
In a motion for final approval, the fans said that email and mail settlement notices sent to nearly 36,000 class members after preliminary approval of the agreement last November yielded fewer than 30 opt-outs and just one objection.
“This overwhelmingly positive response affirms the court’s initial conclusion that the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate,” the plaintiffs, led by Das Nobel, told the court on Wednesday.
According to the motion, the settlement agreement includes different potential reimbursements for two classes of plaintiffs.
People who were denied entry to the 2024 final match between Argentina and Colombia would be eligible to receive up to $2,000 per ticket, a total that includes ticket cost reimbursement as well as reimbursement for outof-pocket travel costs of up to $300.
Meanwhile, others who were admitted to the match but denied full access or enjoyment due to the crowd control troubles would be eligible to receive up to $100 per ticket.
“This is an exceptional result given the presence of arbitration provisions and the defenses available to defendants and when considering the uncertainty of continued litigation,” the fans said regarding recovery potential for the so-called denied entry class of plaintiffs.
According to the motion, Nobel filed the first federal class action complaint five days after the incident. Four other class actions were either consolidated with it or dismissed, and the plaintiff in another case, Kattia Garn, has also opted to participate in the settlement.
The soccer fans told the court they intend to respond to the one objection that was lodged, but asserted that it misunderstood aspects of the settlement and its terms.
“Critically, the objection does not contend that the recoverable amounts offered are insufficient to cover the claims that are involved in the case and being released — the price of the tickets and the travel costs,” they told the court.
Plaintiffs have also asked the court to approve $3.5 million in attorney fees and litigation costs, a total that makes up about 25% of the settlement’s value.
Representatives for the parties did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. Plaintiffs are represented by Jeffrey L. Newsome, Janet R. Varnell, Brian W. Warwick, Christopher J. Brochu, Pamela G. Levinson and Vanessa A. Buchko of Varnell & Warwick PA, Eduardo A. Maura, Luis F. Quesada Machado, Ryan M. Sawal and Orestes D. Garcia of Ayala Law PA, Manuel S. Hiraldo of Moore of Moore Law PLLC, Lee Squitieri of Hiraldo PA, Fletcher Squitieri & Fearon LLP, and Jonathan Lee Borsuk of Jonathan Lee Borsuk PC.
South Florida Stadium LLC is represented by Johanna Spellman and Mark S. Mester of Latham & Watkins LLP.
Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol is represented by Julie Singer Brady of Baker & Hostetler LLP.
Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football is represented by Connor T. Evans, John J. Kuster, Jon Muenz and Lawrence D. Silverman of Sidley Austin LLP.
BEST Crowd Management Inc. is represented by C. Ryan Reetz, Brian A. Sher and Lauren J. Caisman of Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.
The case is Das Nobel et al. v. South Florida Stadium LLC et al., case number District Court for the Southern District of Florida.